Arlington Community Education

Learn the craft of journalism including investigative writing and research. Each day our classroom transforms into a working newsroom, complete with editorial staff, reporters, columnists, and headline writers. Each of us will play multiple roles and work together to publish our own newspaper with stories about our community. We will edit each other’s work, take photographs, and publish our final newspaper.

Please note: The catalog price was listed incorrectly for this class; $155, $259 are accurate Have fun writing and delivering speeches in front of a supportive group and begin to develop this lifelong skill. We will write short speeches about subjects that interest us and practice reading them out loud in this low-pressure environment. Focus on skills such as standing up tall, using a loud voice, and making eye contact. Watch famous and not-so-famous public speakers and analyze their deliveries. At the end of the week we will create our own TV news broadcasts with you as the anchors.

Join us for a fun, fast-paced class where you’ll master the fundamentals of stock picking, business, and money. Team up with classmates to create virtual stock portfolios, and measure performance. We’ll cover entrepreneurship, the power of compound interest, and other money topics through fun, enriching activities. Learn the building blocks of turning concepts into companies, participate in writing a business plan as part of a team, and present prototypes to a group of mock venture capitalists. Please note: Students must bring their own laptop or chromebook each day.

Become the best dog or cat lover you can be! Learn how to take care of a puppy or kitten and maybe even get to know a local veterinarian. Make your own dog or cat treats, craft accessories like treat jars and collar tags, and design and create pet toys. Join us for a week of fun focused on our furry friends.

The action begins as soon as you arrive at the ACMi studio. Hands-on training on cameras, lights, and sound equipment will help you make TV magic. Stop-motion animation, special effects, and interviewing others on camera are just some of the things you’ll learn over the course of the week. You will use your new skills to produce a short film from scratch, which will then be broadcast on ACMi’s TV channels. Please note: This course is primarily for students who have not previously participated in middle-school production groups. Register for one session only. Meet at ACMi studio, 85 Park Avenue, Arlington Heights.

Play the role of young entrepreneurs as we start with the germ of an idea for a product or service and take it through the entire entrepreneurial process. Develop prototypes, formulate a business plan, and devise a marketing strategy. Learn concepts such as competition, profits, and branding while designing print ads, acting out commercials, researching real estate locations, and designing storefronts. As young executives, you will conclude the program by pitching your ideas “Shark-Tank” style. Let’s get down to business!

This program is designed to better prepare you to become a capable, caring, and responsible babysitter. Understand the responsibilities and skills—including basic first aid and what to do in an emergency—and develop confidence in handling situations you may encounter when caring for young children. Upon completion, your services will be in high demand in the neighborhood! This class runs Monday-Thursday, July 31-August 3, 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Please note: You must be at least 12 years old. You will receive a Babysitter’s ID card and a certificate of completion.

Learn to debate, speak, and deliver a speech in front of your supportive peers. Practice how to construct and support an argument, think critically, speak confidently, and listen thoughtfully as we will debate common ethical, moral, and philosophical questions.

Create the world you want to live in. Join our EarthCORE team and together we’ll explore natural areas and systems of Arlington and find out what people are doing to protect and improve our local natural resources. Locate where waste is unnecessary and think through what can be done about it. In order to have our voices heard, create media messaging about taking care of our environment and meet with local officials. Bring your curiosity and ideas for change. Come prepared to walk around town.